Horizon scandal causes 'night terrors' for ex-Cambridgeshire Post Office worker
The Post Office inquiry continues today
A former sub-postmistress in Cambridgeshire has said she's struggled to sleep due to "night terrors" because of the Post Office scandal.
"I have had what's called the night terrors, like nightmares where I'm screaming out through the post office," said Jenny O'Dell.
In 2010, Jenny was wrongly accused of stealing almost £10,000 while working at a post office in Great Staughton as faults in the Horizon IT software made it look like money went missing from business accounts.
Jenny was not convicted, but like hundreds of sub-postmasters, is still waiting for compensation.
'At least three night terrors' a week
"I used to get at least three (night terrors) a week but had to go to the doctors and I'm popping pills to survive day to day," she said.
"It's laughable; Sir Alan Bates put his (compensation bid) in before last Christmas and he's still waiting for his.
"I've questioned this so many times, there is no reason why and for them (the Government) to make us beg for some money, it's just incredible."
In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Alan - a former sub-postmaster - demanded that compensation should be given to the victims of the Horizon scandal by March 2025. The letter came as campaigners have criticised the time it has taken to get full redress.
Replying to Sir Alan's letter, a spokesman for Sir Keir said the Government's committed to getting redress to those affected "as quickly as possible".
Hundreds of sub-postmasters are still awaiting compensation despite the previous Government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.
"I just want it over and done with"
Today, MP Gareth Thomas, parliamentary under secretary for business, is due to be giving evidence at the Post Office inquiry.
That's before current business secretary, MP Jonathan Reynolds and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch MP are due to speak at the inquiry on November 11.
Jenny has told Greatest Hits Radio she feels sympathetic towards those who've been made bankrupt due to the scandal, and is trying to keep distracted from the ordeal as best she can.
"My husband's ill, so in an ironic way, that has to get me through day to day, but it's another added pressure on me," she added.
"They're (the Government) not having to scrape and wonder 'how am I going to pay for a wheelchair for my husband or the petrol to get him to hospital'; we're the innocent people, so justice has not been served.
"I just want it over and done with, be able to shut my front door and say 'that's over, let's start afresh' but that's never going to happen."